The programme was approved at a two-day meeting of the forum, held here Tuesday and Wednesday, by representatives of the snow leopard`s 12 habitat countries -- China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Mongolia, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan.

The programme is expected to be implemented in seven years and the governments of the habitat countries have agreed to allocate funds accounting for more than half the total cost of some $190 million.

The forum was initiated by Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. It was attended by some 200 scientists, experts and representatives from the habitat countries, other countries and international organisations.

According to the organisers, the number of snow leopards in the forests is estimated at 3,000-7,000.